A stack of clocks. That’s what greets you here at the Gare Saint Lazare. This is L’Heure de tous Sculpture. It is an iconic artwork by French sculptor Arman.
L’Heure de tous or The Time for Everyone was installed in 1985. It stands proudly in front of the train station. The sculpture is a bronze column of clocks. They seem stacked haphazardly. Yet there’s a harmony in their arrangement.
These clocks come in different styles and sizes. They symbolize the passage of time. They also show how time governs our daily lives. This is especially true in a busy train station. Here, being on time is everything. L’Heure de tous speaks to the universal experience of time. Everyone at the station deals with it. Locals, tourists, workers, and travelers all feel the pressure of time.
Arman was commissioned to create two sculptures for the Gare Saint Lazare. L’Heure de tous is one. The other is Consigne à vie. Arman often worked with founder Régis Nocquel. Together, they brought Arman’s vision to life.
L’Heure de tous is quite tall. It measures 4.6 meters high. This adds to its playful poetry. It also enhances the realistic dynamism. The sculpture seems to be in unstable equilibrium. It looks ready to collapse at any moment. This was the artist’s intention.
The title L’Heure de tous comes from a novel. The author is Juan José Arreola, a Mexican writer. His magical realism deeply influenced Arman. The name also points to the universality of time.
The clocks are welded together. They are made of bronze. They show different times. The clock faces are enameled. The needles all point to a different hour. This highlights the relativity of time. It also reflects the anxious rush of passengers. They are obsessed with train schedules. It captures the slow pace or the speed of travel.
Interestingly, the molds for the clocks were unusual. They used objects unrelated to clocks. These included van wheels, bathroom mirrors, and plastic containers. This adds another layer of meaning to L’Heure de tous.
Initially, the public didn’t understand the sculpture. Taxi drivers questioned Arman about it. Over time, people grew accustomed to it. Now, people photograph L’Heure de tous. They pose with their families in front of it.
L’Heure de tous belongs to the collection of the Centre national des arts plastiques. It has been restored to its original appearance.
So take a moment to appreciate L’Heure de tous. Consider the meaning behind this unique sculpture. It reflects the importance and relativity of time in our lives. It is a perfect symbol for a place of constant motion like the Gare Saint Lazare.